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The Herald Scotland
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Qatar's luxury jet 'gift' to Trump is ultimate MAGA grift
Republican Ari Fleischer, a Fox News contributor who was press secretary under President George W. Bush and is apparently now a liberal squish, wrote on social media: "Nothing about getting Air Force One from a foreign government feels right." If Trump is fine getting a $400 million gift from Qatar, then I'm fine with it Fleischer is wrong. Based on the way the president is talking about the jet, it seems like it feels great. "They're giving us a free jet," Trump said on May 12. Speaking recently about possible consumer price increases stemming from his patriotic tariffs, the president told American families that their children don't need anything more than three dolls and five pencils. I thought that was very generous of the president, and I didn't see his willingness to allow us to purchase three dolls and five pencils as a bribe of any sort. The MAGA math here is straightforward: We get to buy our children three dolls and five pencils, the already rich president gets a free opulent jet that has a stairwell, an upper-deck lounge, two bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Perfectly fair. Rich people deserve nice things, too. Opinion: Is Pope Leo XIV a 'WOKE MARXIST POPE'? He is if you're a Trump supporter. 'I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer' If accepted, the Qatari jet would be retrofitted - at a cost I assume would be more than three dolls and five pencils - and used as a new Air Force One. Asked about the non-bribe May 12, Trump said: "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.' But I thought it was a great gesture." You see? Nothing dodgy about that. Just the president of the United States accepting $400 million worth of winged decadence from a country where his son - representing the family business - recently signed a deal to develop a $5.5 billion golf club called the Trump International Golf Club, Simaisima. Opinion: Trump wants to limit kids to three dolls and five pencils each. He's right. If Biden got a free jet from a foreign country, it would be a problem This is just totally normal president-ing stuff that would only be an issue if the president were a Marxist radical Democrat like Sleepy Joe "Corrupt" Biden, in which case it would require both impeachment and imprisonment. And besides, this gift-jet would be used while Trump is president - because he currently only has two Air Force One jets with another two on order - and then might be "gifted" to his presidential library when he leaves office. That would mean regular Americans won't have to buy President Trump a gift when he leaves office, freeing up money to purchase more pencils for our children, assuming that by then they've used the five previously allotted. Trump, with the innocence of a lamb, said of the jet: "It would go directly to the library after I leave office." Correct. It would go to the library. Then it would presumably go wherever Trump and his family wanted to fly, because who wants to live in a country where former leaders have to get around in jets that don't have an upper-deck lounge? Imagine how bad we would all feel if the man who brought us MAGA had to endure post-presidency travel on a jet with, say, five bathrooms. That would be unacceptable. If American children can have three dolls, the president can have a free jet Qatari officials said in a statement: "The possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar's Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense, but the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made." Or as Trump put it May 12 while confirming he would be getting a free jet: "I could say no, no, no don't give us. I want to pay you a billion or $400 million or whatever it is, or I could say thank you very much." He then used a golfing anecdote to explain his rationale, which is obviously highly relatable to three-doll/five-pencil Americans. Stop judging our billionaire president - he has grifting to do So I say enough to any griping about the optics of this possible $400 million definitely-not-a-bribe gift, or about the fact that the "Make America Great Again" president would be flying around on a foreign country's swank-jet. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. We the people can get by on doll-and-pencil rationing just fine. But we can't ask a billionaire president to purchase his own luxury jet. That would require him to tap into all the money he has made selling MAGA merchandise. And that, quite frankly, would be un-MAGA-American. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @ and on Facebook at
France 24
09-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Tennis, Twitter and marinated fish: Things to know about Pope Leo
But, in the half-day since the Vatican unveiled the Catholic Church's first leader from the United States, notable facts have begun to emerge about the new pontiff. Red Robes and White Sox The new pontiff is a fan of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, whose supporters are now celebrating a spiritual victory against their city rivals the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs tried to grab first base early, posting a message on their Wrigley Field stadium claiming: "HEY CHICAGO, HE'S A CUBS FAN!" But the Sox scored a home run when Pope Leo's brother John Prevost told local broadcaster WGN: "He was always a Sox fan." Leo XIV is also reportedly a fan of the Alianza Lima football XI, the Peruvian capital's soccer team, currently standing fifth in the Liga 1 table. Leo is also a tennis player. According to Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport, citing "those who know him", the pope has an "excellent backhand and is a formidable competitor". In an interview on the website of his Augustinian order to mark his elevation to cardinal, he said: "I consider myself quite the amateur tennis player. Since leaving Peru I have had few occasions to practise so I am looking forward to getting back on the court." Church groundsman When not pounding cross-court drives across the turf, Prevost might be tending it. As a maths student at Philadelphia's Villanova University he also worked as a gardener at a local church. "While he was in college, he had a little side job as a groundskeeper for one of our parish cemeteries," the city's Archbishop Nelson J. Perez told AFP, grinning. "Amazing story, right? So the pope worked here." The goats and the fishes Pope Leo, an Augustinian missionary, found his calling working among the poor and marginalised in Peru, where he obtained nationality in 2015. And he wasn't just attracted to the Andean country for its football teams. "He loved goat, duck with rice and ceviche, those were his favourite dishes," the bishop of Chiclayo, Leo's former diocese, Edison Farfan told reporters. In recent years, Peru has become a foodie destination, and dishes like ceviche -- fish marinated in citrus and served cold, often with onions -- have gone global. But, according to Farfan and others, Prevost's mission was focused on aid to those living in poverty on the periphery of society. Keyboard cardinal Pope Leo is not the first pontiff to post -- Benedict XVI used the handle @Pontifex in 2012 -- but he is the first to have a long social media history for friends and foes to pore over. Despite US President Donald Trump hailing Prevost's elevation as an honour for the United States, far-right trolls on Elon Musk's X were quick to denounce him as, among other things, a "WOKE MARXIST POPE". Prevost's timeline on X suggests the new pope may be on a collision course with Trump's White House over its hardline anti-immigrant policies. He has pushed back against Vice President JD Vance's nativism, notably his argument that Christians should love their family, neighbours, community and fellow citizens -- in that order. On February 3, three months before being elected pope, he reposted an article headlined: "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others". In 14 years since his X account was created, he has posted more than 400 times on a range of hot-button issues: racism, sexual abuse by the clergy, Covid-19 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He has also amplified criticism of Trump's anti-immigration policies, reposting a 2017 article which called refugee bans "a dark hour of US history". Speaks fluent 'espanol' In March, Trump designated English as the official language of the United States. Two months later, the first pope to hail from the United States addressed the Vatican crowd in Italian, Latin and ... Spanish, the language of his beloved Peru. The surprised crowd -- many of whose members had travelled from Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America to see who would replace Pope Francis, an Argentine -- erupted in cheers.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New pope may clash with White House
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, was embroiled in US politics within minutes of his election. US President Donald Trump congratulated Chicago-born Robert Prevost — a registered Republican — on his election, but the new pope may clash with the White House. As a cardinal he criticized Vice President JD Vance for his stance on immigration, and has repeatedly lambasted the Trump administration. Trump-supporters appeared unimpressed: One MAGA activist called Leo a 'WOKE MARXIST POPE.' His selection represents a rejection of 'intense lobbying [for] a pontiff sympathetic to President Donald Trump,' Time magazine argued, and his chosen papal name harks back to Leo XIII, the early-20th-century pope credited with kickstarting the Church's acceptance of political modernity, the Financial Times wrote.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV live: First American pontiff Robert Prevost takes Catholic Church helm amid increasing global turmoil
Pope Leo XIV has made history after being elected the first American-born pontiff. The 69-year-old former Robert Prevost was chosen to be the 267th pope by the Conclave Thursday after more than two-thirds of the cardinals voted for him to succeed the late Francis. He now takes the helm of the Catholic Church and will lead 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world at a time of increasing global turmoil. The pope prayed for peace in his first official remarks, but his words come against a backdrop of deadly wars, a long shadow of abuse within the church he now leads, and chaos and division at home under the Trump administration. President Donald Trump celebrated the Chicago-born cardinal's papacy as a 'great honor for our country,' while world leaders also reacted to the 'historic day.' But some Trump loyalists and MAGA faithful accused the pope of being 'worse than Francis,' who was well known for his progressive values. Leo will celebrate his first Mass as pope Friday at 11 a.m. local time, before delivering his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said. Robert Prevost is the new Pope When will Pope Leo XIV deliver his first service? Who is the American cardinal named Pope Leo XIV? Trump and world leaders react on 'historic' day MAGA melts down over 'WOKE MARXIST POPE' who is a 'Never Trumper liberal' 06:04 , Shweta Sharma It didn't take long for right-wing media figures and MAGA provocateurs to cry out in rage over the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV after it was revealed that he'd publicly criticized Vice President JD Vance and expressed sympathy for immigrants and George Floyd. Despite feeling national pride over the fact that the Chicago-born Prevost has become the first American pope in history, conservative pundits and Trump loyalists fumed over the 'WOKE MARXIST POPE' and complained that he is 'worse than Francis,' referencing the previous pontiff known for his progressive values. Even before the 'dark horse' American cardinal was elected the 267th pope, former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon warned about Prevost's views, claiming that he would be a poor choice for the MAGA movement. Justin Baragona reports. MAGA melts down over 'WOKE MARXIST POPE' who is a 'Never Trumper liberal' 05:58 , Shweta Sharma The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Bishops' Conference of Catholic Church in China congratulated newly elected Pope Leo XIV on Friday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. China has an estimated 12 million Catholics and his predecessor had put greater focus on building ties with China and Chinese-speaking Catholics across Asia. His funeral sermon concluded with a prayer in Mandarin, the only prayer offered in an Asian language. The Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC) have a fraught history with the Holy See due to their autonomy from papal authority. However, the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement marked a partial thaw, granting the Pope the right to veto bishop candidates proposed by Chinese authorities. Still, tensions persist: in 2023, China unilaterally appointed Bishop Joseph Shen Bin to the Shanghai diocese, bypassing Vatican approval. 05:45 , Shweta Sharma Rare footage from inside the Conclave to select the new Pope shows cardinals applauding Leo XIV as he left the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, 8 May. 05:30 , Rhian Lubin American Robert Prevost has become the 267th pope, succeeding the late Francis as Leo XIV. After the death of Argentine Pope Francis, many observers believed the cardinals would elect a European successor. But cardinals voting in the conclave at the Vatican decided to go back to the Americas, with the 69-year-old Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North Robert Prevost appointed 267th Pope 05:30 , Rhian Lubin Pope Leo XIV told his brother that there was 'no way' he would be elected pontiff in the days before the Conclave. 'Last Saturday when I was at church, one of the priests came over and told me the odds in Las Vegas were 18 to 1,' John Prevost told The New York Times. 'He didn't have a doubt. He thought it would definitely be my brother.' But Leo, formerly Robert Prevost, was almost certain that wouldn't be the case when his brother called him that night. 'He said, 'No way, not going to happen,'' Prevost told the newspaper. The brothers are close – they usually talk every night on the phone and last August, Leo stayed with Prevost at his Illinois home for a few weeks. Prevost said that his brother is likely to follow in the footsteps of the late Pope Francis, and said they were 'two of a kind.' Leo will be 'looking out for the disenfranchised, he will be looking out for the poor, he will be looking out for those who don't have a voice.' Prevost was pictured outside his home Thursday holding a portrait of the three brothers as boys while he answered reporters' questions. 05:15 , Shweta Sharma Australian Catholics and politicians have welcomed the new Pope Leo XIV, hoping he would continue to support peace and social justice like his predecessor. Brother Mark O'Connor, head of communications for the Catholic archdiocese of Parramatta, said he had the opportunity to meet the new pope and described him as a 'humble, gentle leader'. 'He's not different from Pope Francis in terms of vision, but maybe in style,' he said. 'He's more low key.' Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, extended his wishes to the pope on behalf of the Roman Catholic church in Australia. 'The Catholic Church in Australia assures Pope Leo XIV of our prayers, loyalty, and joyful anticipation of his spiritual leadership,' he said. 'May his pontificate be marked by peace, unity, and a deepening of the Gospel message throughout the world.' Prime minister Anthony Albanese also sent his heartfelt congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. He invited him to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney 2028. 'This is a moment of joy and hope for Catholics all over the world,' the prime minister said. 'May God bless Pope Leo XIV and may his papacy advance the cause of peace and justice, in the service of all humanity.' 04:46 , Shweta Sharma Cardinal Robert Prevost chose Pope Leo XIV as his papal name after he was elected as the leader of the Catholic Church. There are no set written rules or official criteria for choosing a pope's name. But new popes choose names that have meaning in the Catholic tradition. Shortly after the announcement of the new Pope, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, addressed journalists at a conference in the Holy See Press Office. Mr Bruni confirmed that the decision to be called Leo XIV was a clear and deliberate reference to Pope Leo XIII, author of the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. That document marked the beginning of the Church's modern social doctrine. 'In this context,' Mr Bruni said, 'it is clearly a reference to the lives of men and women, to their work - even in an age marked by artificial intelligence.' 04:30 , Shweta Sharma Taiwan president Lai Ching-te has sent his congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on his appointment, saying Taiwan hopes to continue working with the Vatican to pursue peace, justice and religious freedom, the island's foreign ministry said on Friday. The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to retain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, whichis claimed by China, though Mr Lai did not attend Pope Francis' funeral last month, sending instead former vice president Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic. Francis had led a wide-ranging outreach to officially atheist China, including signing a deal on the appointment of Catholic bishops in that country, worrying Taiwan. In his message, Mr Lai "stressed that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the Holy See to jointly pursue peace, justice, religious freedom, solidarity, fraternity, and human dignity", the statement said. Habemus Papam! We have a Pope!The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV. — Embassy of the ROC (Taiwan) to the Holy See (@TW_HolySee) May 8, 2025 "Taiwan will continue to promote various exchanges and co-operation with the Holy See, to further strengthen bilateral relations, and to make more contributions to the world together with the Holy See," said the ministry statement. The ministry did not say whether Mr Lai might attend Leo's inauguration. China has yet to comment on the U.S.-born Leo's appointment. Taiwan's embassy to the Vatican on Friday posted a picture of its outgoing ambassador, Matthew Lee, shaking hands with Leo at a Vatican event in 2023. Mr Lee told Taiwan's official Central News Agency that when he told Pope Leo, whose real name is Robert Prevost, that he was from Taiwan, Pope Leo's response was that he was able to distinguish the difference between "democratic Taiwan and communist China". 04:20 , AP Students in every classroom at The Frances Xavier Warde School in Chicago had their eyes glued to TV screens. As the image of the new pope, Chicago native Cardinal Robert Prevost, appeared onscreen, cheers erupted through the hallways. Children jumped out of their seats, pumping their hands in the air. 'Our students are just beside themselves,' said Mary Perrotti, director of advancement at the school. 'They're beyond excited and can't believe a Chicagoan is their new pope. They were in awe.' Raul Raymundo, co-founder of a local community advocacy group called the Resurrection Project, said Thursday was a proud day for Chicagoans and he hoped Pope Leo XIV will 'continue Pope Francis' legacy and Chicago's legacy of social justice and compassion, especially in welcoming immigrants.' 'There's tears of joy, of hope, of motivation to rise to this moment and leave this world better than we found it,' said Raymundo, an immigrant from Mexico who grew up in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. 04:00 , Rhian Lubin Pictures show the childhood home and former school of Pope Leo XIV in Chicago. The modest family home where the pope, formerly Robert Prevost, grew up is in Dolton, Illinois. Photographs also show the St. Mary of the Assumption Church and School where he attended, which is now derelict. 03:40 , Rhian Lubin Pope Leo XIV is pictured meeting with the late former popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II in undated photographs obtained by Reuters news agency. Another black and white photograph shared by the agency shows a young Robert Prevost in another undated snap. 03:20 , Rhian Lubin Steve Bannon predicted last week that Robert Prevost could be elected pope – much to his dismay. 'I do think one of the dark horses — and unfortunately one of the most progressive — is Cardinal Prevost... he's certainly on the shortlist,' Bannon, who is Catholic, told Piers Morgan about the prospect of the first American pope. 'I think it's pretty shocking given the contempt they hold the American church,' he said. 'The American church gives so much money, they're afraid it has too much power. So they've never really wanted to have an American pope.' Bannon, President Donald Trump's former chief strategist during his first administration, likened Prevost to Francis 'ideologically,' and for years attacked the late pope. 03:00 , Rhian Lubin The new pope isn't just from America, he's from Chicago — a fact that social media users are eating up like it's deep-dish pizza. Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, making him the first American to ever be elected by the conclave in the Catholic Church's 2,000-year history. Outside the Sistine Chapel, cheers erupted in the packed Vatican City, where many awaited who would be named as Pope Francis. Online, social media users flooded the internet with memes and jokes about the city he's from, including its signature deep dish pizza, its beloved but often disappointing sports teams, and all things Chicago. Everyone seems to be more than happy to lean into his Chicago roots... Kelly Rissman has the details. Social media users welcome the Chicago-born new pope 02:40 , Rhian Lubin The newly elected Pope Leo XIV – Chicago-born Robert Prevost, a member of the Augustinian religious order who spent much of his life ministering to Catholics in Peru – is 'a true servant of God,' who lives his life according to St. Augustine's 'core values of truth, unity, and love,' a former protégé who has known him for decades told The Independent. In a phone interview on Thursday, Fr. Rob Hagan, who was mentored in his earlier years by Prevost, said that he always referred to the 69-year-old Pope as 'Bob.' Now, he said, 'referring to him as Pope Leo XIV is just an honor.' Justin Rohrlich reports. A 'twinkle in his eye': Former protégé describes American set to lead Catholic Church 02:20 , Rhian Lubin The Empire State Building is lit up gold and white tonight in honor of Pope Leo XIV. Shining gold and white tonight in honor of Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope.📷: @DanTVusa — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) May 8, 2025 02:00 , Rhian Lubin Former classmates of Robert Prevost shared how, even as a boy, he was 'destined' to become Pope Leo XIV. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost grew up in the city's south suburb, where he lived in Dolton with his parents and two brothers. Growing up, the youngster reportedly had a positive experience of parish life, serving as an altar boy and attending school in the St. Mary of the Assumption parish on the far South Side. 'It was pretty apparent back then that was going to be his route,' former classmate John Doughney told the Chicago Sun-Times, speaking before Prevost was elected. 'For him, I think it was a true calling,' Doughney said. 'And, even as a young teenager, he knew what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go.' Others recalled a 'sense of humor' in class. 'He was kind of a little trickster, too,' Joseph Merigold, who used to sit near Prevost in class, said. 'Used to poke me in the back of the head with a pencil all the time because I was a kidder. So he definitely had a sense of humor that a lot of people wouldn't know because he wasn't really that outgoing.' Merigold said Prevost was 'the smartest person in the class.' Prevost was also remembered as a good singer from the choir who 'cared about people' and 'looked for the good in things,' according to Marianne Angarola, who also grew up in Dolton and went to school with him. 'He was the pride and joy of every priest and nun in that school,' Angarola told The Chicago Tribune. 'Everybody knew he was special.' 01:40 , Oliver O'Connell French President Emmanuel Macron called the election of the new pope a 'historic moment' for the church, hoping that his time leading the world's Catholics would be one of 'peace and hope.' A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 8, 2025 01:20 , Rhian Lubin According to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his first Mass as pontiff on Friday, kicking off a busy few days. Here is his schedule: Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass on Friday at 11 a.m. with cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. He plans to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. And he plans to hold an audience with the media on Monday in the Vatican auditorium. 01:00 , Rhian Lubin Pope Leo XIV's brother advised him against adopting the name 'Leo' should he be elected pontiff. On the eve of the conclave, John Prevost told his brother that 'it shouldn't be Leo because it will be the 13th,' he told the Daily Herald. 'He said, 'What should my name be?'' Prevost recalled. 'But he must've done some research to see it's actually the 14th.' After the traditional announcement of 'Habemus Papam' – 'We have a pope' – from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, the new pontiff's baptismal name was revealed, followed by the all-important papal name, laden with symbolic meaning. The last pope to choose the name Leo was more than 100 years ago. Pope Leo XIII led the Church from 1878 to 1903. The first pope of the name, Pope Leo the Great, led the church from 440-461. Friday 9 May 2025 00:40 , AP Americans in St. Peter's square were stunned and joyous when they learned that an American cardinal, Robert Provost, was elected pope Thursday and had taken the name Leo XIV. 'Who in our lifetime would have thought that we would see a North American Holy Father?' said Father Thomas Montanaro, an American priest with the Legionaries of Christ. Montanaro was among the many tens of thousands of people who filled St. Peter's Square for the historic moment. Read on... Americans in St. Peter's Square were stunned by choice of new pope Friday 9 May 2025 00:20 , Oliver O'Connell Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni offered her congratulations to Pope Leo XIV on X: 'I extend my most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate. 'In a time marked by conflicts and anxieties, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call to peace, brotherhood and responsibility. 'A spiritual legacy that is gathered in the furrow traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope.' Rivolgo i più sinceri auguri a Papa Leone XIV per l'inizio del suo un tempo segnato da conflitti e inquietudini, le sue parole dalla Loggia delle Benedizioni sono un richiamo potente alla pace, alla fraternità e alla responsabilità.Un'eredità spirituale che si… — Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 8, 2025 Friday 9 May 2025 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell The first-ever American-born pope inherits a world in crisis. In his first remarks as Pope Leo XIV, Chicago's Robert Francis Prevost prayed for peace. He said it nine times during Thursday's brief address. Alex Woodward reports. What will Pope Leo XIV do? A world in crisis turns to the Vatican Thursday 8 May 2025 23:40 , Rhian Lubin Former President Bill Clinton hailed Pope Leo XIV's election as 'a historic moment' in a post on X this evening. In his first message today, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV spoke to billions—Catholics and non-Catholics alike—calling for unity and offering peace, a message the world needs now more than ever. As the first American to lead the Catholic Church, his election marks a historic moment. I… — Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) May 8, 2025 Thursday 8 May 2025 23:15 , Rhian Lubin Thursday 8 May 2025 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell It didn't take long for right-wing media figures and MAGA provocateurs to cry out in rage over the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV after it was revealed that he'd publicly criticized Vice President JD Vance and expressed sympathy for immigrants and George Floyd. Despite feeling national pride over the fact that the Chicago-born Prevost has become the first American pope in history, conservative pundits and Trump loyalists fumed over the 'WOKE MARXIST POPE' and complained that he is 'worse than Francis,' referencing the previous pontiff known for his progressive values. Justin Baragona reports on what our US readers likely knew was coming. MAGA melts down over 'WOKE MARXIST POPE' who is a 'Never Trumper liberal' Thursday 8 May 2025 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell Well, that depends on who you believe... Here's a report from the AP: The bells pealed at Holy Name Cathedral as a crowd quickly gathered. Schoolchildren mingled outside, whooping and shouting. Bishop Larry Sullivan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, told a press conference that it's an exciting day for the city and the country. 'I would say the Chicago way is that we come together, we share our faith,' he said. The cathedral's rector, Father Gregory Sakowicz, said the sun came out in Chicago when the new pope was announced, a coincidence he described as 'God's way of remaining anonymous.' He said he was 'happily shocked,' and that he had a burning question: was the new Pope a White Sox fan? A journalist said she'd heard he's for the Cubs, and Sakowicz chuckled. 'God bless him,' he said. However, local network WGN scored an interview with the new pope's brother, and they're reporting the pontiff is a White Sox fan... Funnily enough, this actually turned into a little parable about unconfirmed reports going viral on the internet. Many people have been tweeting that Leo XIV is a Cubs fan based on an offhand comment made on ABC, but now WGN is reporting this: — Nathaniel Rakich (@baseballot) May 8, 2025 Day one, and already a papal mystery has taken shape. Thursday 8 May 2025 22:16 , Oliver O'Connell United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he looks forward 'to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the United Nations and the Holy See – nurtured most recently by Pope Francis – to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation, and build a just and sustainable world for all.' 'The election of a new Pope is a moment of profound spiritual significance for millions of faithful around the world, and it comes at a time of great global challenges. Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity and compassion,' Guterres said. And he quoted the new pope's first words: 'Despite the rich diversity of backgrounds and beliefs, people everywhere share a common goal: 'May peace be with all the world.'' Thursday 8 May 2025 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell The first hint of the new pope's direction has come with the name he picked. USA Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was elected the new pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV a senior cardinal announced to crowds in St. Peter's Square. Continue reading... Pope Leo XIV: What the new pope's name choice says about his future plans Thursday 8 May 2025 21:51 , Oliver O'Connell Russian President Vladimir Putin extended his 'cordial congratulations' to the new pope in a message published on the Kremlin's website, wishing him 'success in fulfilling the high mission entrusted to you, as well as good health and well-being.' 'I am confident that the constructive dialogue and interaction established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us,' the Russian leader said. Thursday 8 May 2025 21:48 , Oliver O'Connell Newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, a practicing Catholic, called the pope's election a 'historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance.' 'At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all,' Carney said in a post on social media. I offer my prayers and best wishes to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election, an historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance. At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all. — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) May 8, 2025 Thursday 8 May 2025 21:39 , AP Boston is among the most Catholic of U.S. cities — about a quarter of the population identifies as Catholic, according to the Pew Research Center, down from 29% in 2014 after the clergy abuse scandal broke in the city and spread worldwide. Boston's former archbishop, Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, turned 80 in June, so he was too old to vote, and his successor, Archbishop Richard Henning, is not a cardinal. The city lacked a direct representative inside the conclave, but is cheering nonetheless. 'We have a pope! I join with Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston and throughout the world, along with people of good will, in celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV as the new Holy Father,' Henning said in a statement. 'We pray for him as he begins this ministry as the Vicar of Christ and the Bishop of Rome. May he be for us a visible source and foundation of communion in faith.' Thursday 8 May 2025 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell President Trump sent his well wishes to the new American Pope, Robert Prevost — even though the new pontiff has been critical of the president, his administration and his treatment of migrants. Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, has shared several highly critical posts about Trump and his immigration policies on X. Isabel Keane reports. New American Pope Robert Prevost once blasted Vance
